Contract talks with Tim Lincecummight be Job One for the Giants this winter, and though Lincecum said he would listen to whatever the team has to say, he told The Chronicle on Thursday he is not keen on locking himself into a long-term deal that would buy out future free-agent years.

In one bit of good news for Freak fans, Lincecum said his criminal lack of run support in San Francisco will not factor into his thinking.

"I don't think it has to do with the offense," Lincecum said when told that San Francisco fans fear he and Matt Cain will bolt to teams that score more runs. Cain can file for free agency after next season.

"I just don't know how I'm going to feel five years from now, or three years. That's why I'd kind of like to take things step by step and why I liked the deal I got last year."

Lincecum is completing a $23 million contract that covered the first two of his four arbitration seasons. Given his durability, especially now that he has embraced a proper fitness regimen, the Giants might be interested in signing Lincecum for more than two years to ensure he does not leave when he is eligible for free agency after 2013.

That would provide Lincecum with financial security, but also, in his mind, a lot more to worry about.

"It's just easier for me mentally not to have to put that kind of pressure on yourself," he said. "Not that you don't want to succeed, but when you're signed to a long-term deal, it's like saying, 'I'm going to live up to every expectation.'

"That's why I like going year to year, so I can improve on it and not sit on what I've done."

Asked if he would be open to another two-year deal, covering his final two arbitration years, Lincecum said, "Yeah. Definitely."

Still, Lincecum said he will stay open-minded when the Giants approach him to talk turkey this winter.

"It all depends on how they come after me," he said. "If it's aggressive, obviously I want to take that into consideration and talk about it with my agent and see what he thinks is good. I haven't dismissed anything."

Giants on deck

Tonight

at Diamondbacks

6:40 p.m. CSNBA

Cain (12-10) vs.

Saunders (12-12)

Saturday

at Diamondbacks

5:10 p.m. CSNBA

Surkamp (2-0) vs.

Kennedy (20-4)

Sunday

at Diamondbacks

1:10 p.m. CSNBA

Lincecum (13-13) vs.

Collmenter (9-10)

Leading off

Happy for Stow: Manager Bruce Bochy was overjoyed that Bryan Stow was able to call out his kids' names in the hospital. "We've been praying," Bochy said. "It means a lot, because he's been on our minds."